Cheddar’s Casual Cafe plans on April 22 opening

Restaurant seeks approval of license to sell liquor, beer

Construction continues on Cheddar’s Casual Cafe on Monday. The restaurant has applied for restaurant retail liquor and on-premises retail beer licesnses in anticipation of its opening next month.

Dusty Compton | The Tuscaloosa News

By Jason MortonStaff Writer

Published: Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, March 18, 2013 at 11:39 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | Cheddar’s Casual Cafe is set to open in about a month at the former site of McFarland Mall, company officials said.

And in anticipation, the restaurant is coming before the Tuscaloosa City Council tonight for approval of its liquor licenses.

The council is set to vote on licenses for restaurant retail liquor and on-premises retail beer, two typical licenses that restaurants work to secure before opening.

Michael Pacini, a real estate consultant for the restaurant chain that began in 1979, said Cheddar’s is planning an April 22 opening date.

Councilman Bob Lundell, who represents District 6, where Cheddar’s is located, said he sees the new restaurant as a sign of things to come.

“We’re looking forward to the opening of Cheddar’s and look forward to welcoming it to the district,” Lundell said. “I’ve heard a lot of good things from people who have eaten there.

“We’re really looking forward to them coming and having another (restaurant) option in the area.”

McFarland Mall opened in 1969 and was the third enclosed mall in Alabama. For decades, it was a major shopping destination in West Alabama, but has been in decline for the past decade.

The McFarland family, which had developed and owned the mall, sold the property to Tuscaloosa developer Stan Pate in 2009.

Now dubbed Encore Tuscaloosa, Cheddar’s is set to be the first new business to open at the mall site since Pate took it over in May 2009.

Cheddar’s Casual Cafe is a Midwest-based restaurant franchise that’s beginning its first forays into the southeastern and northeastern U.S.

The $3 million project, including the nearly 8,000-square-foot building is close to completion and, once open, will have a seating capacity of more than 275.

The company that began in Arlington, Texas, has been looking to enter the Tuscaloosa market for about three years because of the high number of college students and steady population growth spawned by industries such as Mercedes-Benz U.S. International near Vance.

“Cheddar’s will bring a new dining experience to Tuscaloosa with a from-scratch kitchen, quality foods and service at a fair price, all in a polished, casual environment,” Pacini said in December.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | Cheddar's Casual Cafe is set to open in about a month at the former site of McFarland Mall, company officials said.</p><p>And in anticipation, the restaurant is coming before the Tuscaloosa City Council tonight for approval of its liquor licenses.</p><p>The council is set to vote on licenses for restaurant retail liquor and on-premises retail beer, two typical licenses that restaurants work to secure before opening.</p><p>Michael Pacini, a real estate consultant for the restaurant chain that began in 1979, said Cheddar's is planning an April 22 opening date.</p><p>Councilman Bob Lundell, who represents District 6, where Cheddar's is located, said he sees the new restaurant as a sign of things to come.</p><p>“We're looking forward to the opening of Cheddar's and look forward to welcoming it to the district,” Lundell said. “I've heard a lot of good things from people who have eaten there.</p><p>“We're really looking forward to them coming and having another (restaurant) option in the area.”</p><p>McFarland Mall opened in 1969 and was the third enclosed mall in Alabama. For decades, it was a major shopping destination in West Alabama, but has been in decline for the past decade.</p><p>The McFarland family, which had developed and owned the mall, sold the property to Tuscaloosa developer Stan Pate in 2009.</p><p>Now dubbed Encore Tuscaloosa, Cheddar's is set to be the first new business to open at the mall site since Pate took it over in May 2009.</p><p>Cheddar's Casual Cafe is a Midwest-based restaurant franchise that's beginning its first forays into the southeastern and northeastern U.S.</p><p>The $3 million project, including the nearly 8,000-square-foot building is close to completion and, once open, will have a seating capacity of more than 275.</p><p>The company that began in Arlington, Texas, has been looking to enter the Tuscaloosa market for about three years because of the high number of college students and steady population growth spawned by industries such as Mercedes-Benz U.S. International near Vance.</p><p>“Cheddar's will bring a new dining experience to Tuscaloosa with a from-scratch kitchen, quality foods and service at a fair price, all in a polished, casual environment,” Pacini said in December.</p><p>Reach Jason Morton at jason.morton@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0200.</p>